Question : PUBLIC TELEPHONE BOOTHS

(a) the number of applications lying pending for installation of public telephone booths in Madhya Pradesh till date;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the time by which these applications are likely to be cleared;

(d) the number of Talukas and Tehsils where public telephone booths having STD facility at present in M.P. and Chhattisgarh States;

(e) the number of Talukas and Tehsils yet not having said facility in both the States; and

(f) the steps proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR)

(a) Sir, 102 applications are pending for installation of public telephone booths in Madhya Pradesh Telecom Circle.

(b) The applications are mostly current. However, some of the applications are pending due to area being technically non-feasible.

(c) By March, 2001.

(d) 254 Tehsils of Madhya Pradesh and 93 Tehsils of Chattisgarh are having Public Telephones with STD facility.

(e) Only 2 Tehsils in Madhya Pradesh and 3 Tehsils in Chattisgarh State.

(f) In Chhatisgarh, all the remaining three tehsils will be provided with STD Public Telephones by March, 2001. In Madhya Pradesh, one tehsil will be provided STD Public Telephones by March, 2001 and the second during the year 2001-2002.